On Labor Day, Sept. 7, every American is invited to take a stand for kids' health and send the message to Congress that our children deserve real food in their school meals. Slow Food USA has organized "Time for Lunch," a nationwide potluck to bring people together to share food and take action in support of better school lunches.

More than 250 potluck Eat Ins have been organized around the country to draw attention to the need for healthier food for the more than 30 million children who participate in the National School Lunch Program. The program is part of the Child Nutrition Act that Congress will reauthorize later this year.

In addition to the shared meal, each Labor Day Eat In will have tables set up for guests to send petitions and postcards to Congress. The goal is to increase funding in the Child Nutrition Act reauthorization so schools can afford to serve fresh local produce, lean meats and whole grains, all of which cost more than current school lunches.

There will also be guest speakers. At the Eat In scheduled for San Francisco's Civic Center Plaza from noon to 3 p.m., attendees will hear from state Sen. Mark Leno, D-San Francisco; Dr. Daphne Miller, author of "The Jungle Effect"; and recent Balboa High School graduate Monica Guerra.

Those who plan to attend should bring a dish of food to share, as well as their own plate, cup and eating utensils. The event is free, but organizers would like to get a head count, so guests are encouraged to register at Brownpapertickets.com. However, registered or not, everyone is welcome to attend.

Our country is in danger of raising the first generation of children who will live sicker and die younger than the generation before them. Today, one-third of American children and adolescents are obese or overweight. We have a chance to reverse this trend, to help our children get better school lunches and learn to make the kind of smart decisions about food that can help them live longer, healthier lives. There has never been a better time for anyone who has a child, wants a child, knows a child or ever was a child to come together with friends and neighbors and bring about change. It's time to share a meal, to sign a petition, to make your voice heard. It's Time for Lunch.